Learn how to be an advocate at free Soroptimist of South Lake Tahoe workshop

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe (SISLT) is launching a series of workshops to educate the South Lake Community on various topics impacting the status of women including wage discrepancy, equal access to healthcare, right to family leave, right to child care, equal funding for women sports (Title IX), and Advocacy 101.

The first workshop had to be rescheduled due to snow and is now being held on Wednesday, April 19 at 5 p.m. at the South Tahoe Library. The panelists include Cristi Creegan, mayor of South Lake Tahoe, and Mark and Liz Aneloski, successful local advocates.

SISLT invites the public to join them and the experts to increase your confidence in being a valuable spokesperson for issues that concern you. This first session of the series sets the groundwork on how to be an effective advocate. They will provide you with a template that will help you create a succinct pitch that you can present and get feedback on.

SISLT also has the second event already planned for May 24. They will be discussing wage discrepancies.

As of 2022, women earn 82 percent of what men earn, according to the Pew Research Center. What can we do to create equality for women in the workforce? SISLT hopes to have a productive session that enlightens the community and empowers people to fight for change.

The third event in the series will cover Title IX. It will be held in June in alignment with the 50th anniversary of the law's passing. This topic is especially important to SISLT as they have allocated $325,000 to renovate the dilapidated softball field at South Tahoe Middle School to provide amenities commensurate with the adjacent boys’ baseball field, with the goal to create gender parity for the girls' teams.

This educational series will continue in alignment with the club's mission statement; to create a world where all women and youth worldwide have equal opportunity and access to all resources, such as financial, health, and education, and are fully empowered to reach their optimum potential and prosperity. Future sessions will cover topics such as equal access to healthcare, the right to family leave and childcare, and more.

If you're unable to make the first meeting, please visit https://www.sislt.org/status-of-woman/ and sign up for their mailing list for more information.

If you would like to attend the event on April 19, please register in advance at https://www.sislt.org/events/advocacy-101/. In addition to the valuable information, they will also provide free hot chocolate and cookies to everyone in attendance.